AQotWF - Group work continued

Today you'll have some time to finish the group work from yesterday. Then we'll use those responses to start a discussion about the book and its ideas. We'll work on a variety of levels, from making sure we are following the plot to an exploration of the themes and questions it raises.

Also, I reminded you of my expectations of good readers, including finding a system of annotations that works for you, keeping a list of characters, and looking up words you don't know.

As a reminder, for tonight you will be reading the rest of chapter 4.

AQotWF - Chapters 1-3

Happy Monday!

Today you'll meet with your final set of groups for the year:

All Quiet on the Western Front
Carly Ben F. Chase Aaron Sam C.	Abigail Bekah Will AJ Sammy	Colleen Autumn Ian Jeremy Max B.	Brianna Ari Luke Jack	Sydney Max K. Ben K. Matt Ben A.

Here is a link to your work for today. 

As a reminder, your homework for tonight is to read through page 64 of chapter 4.

Rules of Notice

Today we'll discuss some of the tools we use as readers, starting with this handout: Rules of Notice

Then, we'll look back over the opening pages of chapter 1 to practice this.

You'll have reading time for most of the period. While you are reading you'll have your notebook out to help you to keep track of some details from the novel and to process your thoughts.

By the end of the period, you'll write out 5 statements of things you notice in the chapters you read. Use this format: "I noticed the words / phrase __________. This suggests __________." You'll do this by hand and submit it by the end of the period.

As a reminder, over the weekend you are to finish chapters 1-3.

Intro. to the novel

Here are the presentations you created:

• Group 1
• Group 2
• Group 3
• Group 4
• Group 5
• Group 6

After we watch them, we'll check out this video crash course on World War I.

With time remaining we'll start listening to this recording of chapter 1. 

As we go through the book, feel free to use an audio recording if you find that to be helpful. Here is a link to one - it's free although it isn't the best one I've heard.

Remember that although I will not be specifically collecting or grading annotations, I expect you to be using them in a format that works for you.

War - a first look

We'll start today in the same groups as yesterday. Your group will look at one of these songs:

• Song 1
• Song 2
• Song 3
• Song 4
• Song 5
• Song 6

Listen to the song - read through the lyrics - watch the video - get to know it. Discuss these questions:

• What points is the song making about war?
• What topics does it cover?
• What type of people are mentioned in the song? Why?
• What emotions are at the core of the song?
• Which lyrics communicate these ideas?

Then, you will use the rest of the period to combine the answers to these questions with those you'll explore in this research project. You can combine them in any way you'd like - use the music, videos, images, etc. - in a presentation we'll share tomorrow.

• World War I Research Project

Be sure to have your book with you at the start of class tomorrow!

Songs about...

Today we'll play a game about songs.

Please remember you need to own a copy of All Quiet on the Western Front in class on Wednesday.

Also, I just posted a link to our final calendar! Look right over there --->

A Tale of Two Cities - Last Day!

Today we will share our projects in E116!

After you've had some time to check out everyone's projects, you use this form to respond to two of them. When you are done, you'll submit it to Schoology.

• Multi-Genre peer feedback

Also, you will need to own a copy of our next book, All Quiet on the Western Front, by next Wednesday. It is available in the bookstore for $6.

A Tale of Two Cities - Final Work Days!

Monday and Tuesday of this week are set aside for work days.

Your final project is due by the start of class Thursday morning.

Please be sure to review the assignment handout to make sure you are submitting all of the required work. There is a space in Schoology ready and waiting for your projects! Good luck as you bring the unit to a strong conclusion!!

A Tale of Two Cities - Project Work Day

Today I'll return the final set of quizzes from A Tale of Two Cities. Then, we'll have time to review the multi-genre assignment for the unit.

I've extended the due date - the project is now due on Thursday, April 18th.

A Tale of Two Cities - Start of Final Project

Happy Monday!

Today I distributed copies of this handout describing the final project.

Please look it over carefully and let me know if you have any questions!

A Tale of Two Cities - Day 34

Happy Friday! By the time you read this, you will have completed your in-class writing for today.

Now it is time to take the first steps toward the final project for this unit. As a reminder, here is a link to the original handout I gave you about the multi-genre pieces you created.

This weekend, you are to select at least 5 of your multi-genre pieces to use in your final project. There are a few factors you should consider as you make your choices:

• I will be asking you to find some sort of connection between the pieces - a character, a theme, a symbol, or a key question - so you might want to have that guide your choices
• You should choose ones you find most interesting or engaging
• You should choose ones you are proud of or where you did something interesting or unique
• You should choose ones you want to spend more time with over the next week

Then, for each one, you will answer these questions:

1. Explain what you created - go into as much detail as possible
2. Why did you choose this particular style/format for this piece?
3. What did this format help you to see/learn differently than if you were to just write a journal response?
4. What was most successful about this piece? What was the least successful? If you were to spend more time with this piece and revise or remake it, what would you do differently, and why?

These answers will be a portion of your final project, so please treat it that way. Brief, incomplete answers would not indicate you doing your best work.

These are not due on Monday, but I highly recommend you at least start the process since I will assign the rest of the project then.

Have a great weekend!

A Tale of Two Cities - Day 33

It's time for the last chapter! We'll listen to chapter 15 in class together.

After answering some reflective questions in your journals, we'll whip around to share answers to one of these questions:

• Which character in the book were you most interested by? Why?
• What point do you think Dickens was making with the book? What theme(s) did he include?

Then I'll give out a copy of these questions. You will be writing about them in class on Friday. You chose one of them and I will randomly assign a second one to you. On Friday you will be able to use your book and notebook, but not your Chromebook or any electronic resources to write your paragraphs. You can use as much time as you'd like to answer the questions in class. Also, you may prepare for the writing by doing any advance work in your journal.

• A Tale of Two Cities discussion questions

Lastly, your homework for Friday is to create your final M-G response.

A Tale of Two Cities - Day 32

We'll start the day with an activity, pairing various mysteries from the book with their solutions. You'll work with a partner to make sure you identify where the solution appears in the book, as well as what it means and how it fits into the overall picture.

• Here is a link to the master list of mysteries and solutions

Please note - I changed the calendar - tonight you are reading chapter 14 - 

you do not need to do an M-G response - we will listen to the last chapter in class tomorrow!

A Tale of Two Cities - Day 31

Greetings! Welcome back from spring break! I hope it was all you wanted it to be!

Today we'll view some of the emoji summaries we created right before the break - I'll post links to them here so you can check them out:

• Group 1
• Group 2
• Group 3
• Group 4
• Group 5

After that, we'll listen to chapter 12 in class. 

(Note - we did not get to finish - please be sure to read the final pages tonight for homework)

As a reminder, for homework tonight you will be reading chapter 13.